Friday, January 27, 2006
Words, Wurds, Wirds, Wrds
I've never considered my speaking voice or my "accent" to be especi
ally unique, but according to one of my customers at Anna's the other day, I have a lovely and unusual accent. I told the sweet lady that I was raised in Washington State and that my husband is Egyptian (maybe I pick up on his accent). I suppose that must be true. This reason, combined with my operatic training in College (diction IS a must) probably do change my tone a bit. I know that I use longer words than most people can ingest in one sentence.
This has led me to ponder on the drawl that I have encountered in many of my native Texan customers. I have stated before that Texas is a country all on it's own (it doesn't NEED the US, really), and I believe in all honesty that it has it's own language as well. Let me site a few examples:
1. "Y'all" can be used not only for a group of people but also for an individual. (i.e. "Could y'all pass me the salt?")
2. "Ain't" IS a word.
3. Things are never "on" or "off". They are either "awn" or "awf". ("Turn the lights awn"; "Turn the TV awf")
4. Vowels present a special situation. In most cases they are extended, and sometimes mutated. However, before the letter "r", they are omitted. (i.e. the word "letter" becomes "leeeeyttrr".)
5. Syllables are added to an already existing number of syllables in certain words. For instance, the word "accent" becomes "acceyent". ("Y'all hayave a looowvly acceyent." Translated: "You have a lovely accent".)
This is all for now as my time is limited this morning while I prepare for work. (I am now officially working two jobs, and will probably be posting between shifts.) My point today, in any case, is for "y'all" to think of the way the people around you talk. (Not to make fun of them, even though it's nice to laugh at human nature), but to appreciate the differences.
ally unique, but according to one of my customers at Anna's the other day, I have a lovely and unusual accent. I told the sweet lady that I was raised in Washington State and that my husband is Egyptian (maybe I pick up on his accent). I suppose that must be true. This reason, combined with my operatic training in College (diction IS a must) probably do change my tone a bit. I know that I use longer words than most people can ingest in one sentence.This has led me to ponder on the drawl that I have encountered in many of my native Texan customers. I have stated before that Texas is a country all on it's own (it doesn't NEED the US, really), and I believe in all honesty that it has it's own language as well. Let me site a few examples:
1. "Y'all" can be used not only for a group of people but also for an individual. (i.e. "Could y'all pass me the salt?")
2. "Ain't" IS a word.
3. Things are never "on" or "off". They are either "awn" or "awf". ("Turn the lights awn"; "Turn the TV awf")
4. Vowels present a special situation. In most cases they are extended, and sometimes mutated. However, before the letter "r", they are omitted. (i.e. the word "letter" becomes "leeeeyttrr".)
5. Syllables are added to an already existing number of syllables in certain words. For instance, the word "accent" becomes "acceyent". ("Y'all hayave a looowvly acceyent." Translated: "You have a lovely accent".)
This is all for now as my time is limited this morning while I prepare for work. (I am now officially working two jobs, and will probably be posting between shifts.) My point today, in any case, is for "y'all" to think of the way the people around you talk. (Not to make fun of them, even though it's nice to laugh at human nature), but to appreciate the differences.
